Anyone else having problems with warning sensors and brakes on 2013 GL 450? We have about 5k miles on ours and it has been to the shop several times already to have warning sensors replaced and the brakes checked.

It is now sitting at the shop waiting for new brake rotors, which are on global back order. 287 people are ahead of us.

Our GL also has had the anti-lock brakes engage at random times when making turns. I think the vehicle is unsafe to drive, but the service department is trying to brush off all of these problems off.

I expect much more out of an $80k MB.

 

What "warning sensors" are you speaking of?

 

would you be able to post copies of what the dealer notes? what sensors you are referring to?

 

I believe the sensors that were replaced were part of the collision prevention assist system. The system would beep at random times as though we were going to crash into something. The distance warning sensors, also seem to go off at random times, but the dealer has not experienced it, so they have done nothing.

 

Strange why they would replace the brake rotors

 

The rotors are already warped after 5k miles.

 

 

OK, I'm thinking you have 2 separate issues that you made sound like one? The collision warning false triggers has been observed by a few people on the forums. It doesn't happen often and seems to be a combination of weather and unique factors in the road. I haven't seen it bad enough that people are too angry.

The second issue appears to be your brakes? Given you have warped rotors I guess you've noticed uneven or vibrating braking and when going to the dealer they have said you have warped rotors? This is the first report of something like this on this forum.

 

Jim,

There are definitely separate issues. Collision warning, distance warning, pre-safe system occasionally turns off, anti-lock brakes engaging inappropriately, and warped brake rotors. We were told by the dealer that the rotors are on global back order and being redesigned.

The shop guys road test after vehicle sits there and is cold. After driving a while they can feel warped rotors, but after a short drive it isn't that bad. After the rotors get hot, the vehicle feels completely unsafe, especially at highway speeds. Couple that with the anti-lock brakes engaging when you lightly apply pressure to the brake pedal.

I have very little confidence in this vehicle and don't like the idea of my wife driving my kids around in it.

 

lemon law it, another member with a new ML had issues with his and the dealer bought the vehicle back from him

 

CAS - yes there has been both interference problems (camera stoplights, etc) and alignment problems - I think there is a TSB that recommends sensor replacement if required, and at least one who had their sensors replaced experienced a good result.

Distronic - have not heard of any functional issues, that's a rock solid system, although since it operates on on one part of the K Band it will drive most K Band radar detectors crazy - external radar jammers in other cars in traffic can conceivably become a issue.

I have seen rotor issues in a couple 13's including one GL and one SL.

Both cases it was hard to track down the cause of "un eveness" - feels like a "warp" but the ones I have seen are more the whole surface of that disc is at a slight angle - like a tilted ring around Saturn - slight, but real enough.

On the rotor replacement - info has to get uploaded to MB for approval for replacement - so MB does have direct/good look at it. Best to get both rotors and pads replaced.

Rotor back order is "normal" for a new gen 13 model - I am not excusing it, I am saying there are not rotors in stock at your dealer - waited 10 days for SL rotors - in that case one rotor was freaky at about 4K miles, replaced both sides rotors/pads, on that one had to wrestle with MB a little to approve both sides with pads replacement at low that mileage.

On this "brakes freak at making turns" - need a bit better description here - if the brakes are "grabbing" when you apply light pressure then that's one thing which is common when rotors have a problem and actually feels more serious when making a high speed turn than slowing down from speed in a straight line.

It's a much different thing if either ETS was triggered when making a turn, of if ABS was triggered - those cases "normally" there would have a telltale in the diagnostic.

Have you had any tire pressure isssue, slow leak, in a particular front tire ? That would be another thing.

On "lemon law" it varies a bit by state - and the key thing in most states is how many times and how long it has been out of service for repair... and any claim for Lemon Law gets handled by MB directly..

 

Thanks for info.

I am not sure which system is causing ABS to engage. Tire pressure is fine. The wheels don't lock up, but vehicle significantly slows down. It has typically been experienced when making a left turn across traffic.

I am supposed to hear a game plan from the dealer tomorrow.

 

Just to me - unless you are feeling a "pulsation" kick in - I would lean towards ETS - I have seen a "couple" wheel sensors and/or wierd wheels.

Good luck Monday !

 

Could you describe he sensation from the rotors. I have a somewhat unusual sensation through the steering wheel under normal driving that I took it in for (feels like maybe road feedback but different - like very very mild grabbing of the brakes). But last week or so definite unevenness under braking - separate to what I described above.

 

It might be worthwhile to compare it to one of the two active lane keeping assist actions if you have that on your GL. The first feedback, crossing a dashed center line is the 'rumble' of the steering wheel, much like going over center line bumps in the road. The second feedback, forced braking on the wheels which bring you back into the lane when you cross a solid line.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully his sales person explained and/or demonstrated both safety features before he took delivery of his GL (if so equipped).

 

Jim,

You may be right on with the lane keeping assist. I have experienced the first feedback at appropriate times. What we are experiencing is more of the forced braking. It dawned on me that it might be related to that, but there are often solid lines that you have to cross over when turning. It seems to me that if you have on your turn signal it should override that system. Perhaps that is where this latest issue comes from.

 

I would suggest turning it off and see if the problem goes away. There is also a strict mode and a more tolerant mode. It is supposed to recognize the blinker.

 

Update from dealer - they found new rotors even though they are back ordered. It probably helped that we said we would keep loaner until fixed. Should be installed in a couple of days. Then they will do road test with us. Seems like we are making progress. Now we just have to make sure we get all of the kinks worked out with sensors.

 

Jim,

Thanks again for the feedback. Great troubleshooting suggestion.

 

From the manual:

Switch on Active Lane Keeping Assist using the on-board computer; to do so, select Standard or Adaptive


If Standard is selected, no warning vibration occurs if:

- you switch on the turnsignals. In this event, the warnings are suppressed for a certain period of time.

- driving safety systemintervenes, such as ABS, BAS or ESP®.



If Adaptive is selected, no warning vibration occurs if:

- you switch on the turnsignals. In this event, the warnings are suppressed for a certain period oftime.

- driving safety systemintervenes, e.g. ABS, BAS or ESP®.

- you accelerate hard, e.g.kickdown.

- you brake hard.

- you steer actively, e.g.swerve to avoid an obstacle or change lanes quickly.

- you cut the corner on asharp bend.

 

Joema, thanks for the info. Once we get the vehicle back I'll have to test under different settings. It is possible that the turns were too aggressive for the adaptive setting. No one at the dealer gave a response with the same insight.

 

You're welcome, I will be curious to hear what you finally figure out.

 

are they taking the rotors from another GL?

 

Just a general report on issues or the lack thereof....... finished a 400 mile trip yesterday ( will go back on thurs )....no issues! All systems worked as advertised ..... averaged 20.2 mpg at speeds ranging from 65mph to 80 ( ) 800 total miles on the meter now! Really like the intelligent headlight system and the Distronic Plus!